David Benoit: Jazz maestro Benoit coming to town
Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Do not compare Canadian jazz composer/pianist David Benoit's upcoming concert to the recent trip-down-memory-lane from Air Supply, although both have performed in this country on more than two occasions.
Benoit is not part of the league of has-been pop groups trying to scrape back some of the waning popularity of yesteryear by doing endless tours of developing countries.
He is instead one of the leading artists in his field.
His concert here on Wednesday is aimed at promoting his latest album Right Here Right Now, his 23rd recording and 15th with leading jazz label GRP within 25 years. The album was released last Wednesday.
In the international contemporary jazz community, the three- time Grammy nominee continues to ride the wave of popularity and acclaim as a prolific and innovative artist.
His wide-ranging resume includes straight-ahead jazz recordings, television and film scoring, classical composition, and conducting eminent orchestras, such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the symphonies of London, Nuremberg, San Francisco, Atlanta, San Antonio and San Jose.
Benoit's involvement in the Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation as a guest educator has brought him into classrooms throughout the country.
He is also nearing completion of his first Broadway musical about the life and times of Marilyn Monroe, a collaboration with lyricist Mark Winkler.
Benoit is also the musical director for the Asia America Symphony in Palos Verdes, California, in which he will develop the orchestra's programming, conduct concerts and build an "East meets West" musical concept.
Aside from all those projects, Benoit continues touring extensively and releasing records which encompass a wide range of jazz-inflected styles, from contemporary pop to bebop, orchestral and hip-hop.
Among the highlights of his discography are 1988's Every Step of the Way, nominated for a Grammy in the "Best Jazz Fusion" category; 1989's Waiting for Spring, which for eight weeks topped Billboard's traditional jazz chart; and 1992's Letter to Evan, a heartfelt tribute to the late jazz piano giant Bill Evans.
Personally, I always relate him to Charles Schulz's comic strip Peanuts, as Benoit played Linus and Lucy in 1987's Happy Anniversary Charlie Brown in 1987.
In 2000, he released Here's to You, Charlie Brown: 50 Great Years!. Benoit also developed in the same year, an entire live musical tribute to Peanuts, featuring a full orchestra, arranged and conducted by Benoit, performing a variety of music, including the memorable melodies composed by the late pianist Vince Guaraldi for the classic Peanuts TV specials.
Benoit also composed and performed a classical piece for piano and orchestra, The Peanuts Gallery commissioned by Carnegie Hall. He has since brought the show to various parts of the United States.
Benoit's previous album, 2002's Fuzzy Logic, which according to him refers to machines that can sort of figure things out on their own, shows his ability to innovate.
In the album, he puts away the string section, brings in the vintage Hammond B-3 organ and raises the beat. The result is an edgier sound on a funkier, more energized and more upbeat record than his previous releases.
There you go. You've got plenty of reasons as to why you should watch David Benoit's concert. Catch him live on Wednesday at the ballroom of Gran Melia Hotel in Kuningan, South Jakarta, and in Bandung's Hyatt Regency Hotel the next day.
Ticket prices are Rp 250,000 for first class, Rp 350,000 for VIP seating and Rp 450,000 for VVIP. Prices for Bandung are slightly cheaper: Rp 200,000 and Rp 250,000 for first class and VIP seats respectively.
For ticket and information, please contact promoter Buena Produktama in (021) 7279 1234.
If you are going to the concert, please be considerate, and TURN OFF your cell phone. The ringing incident in the middle of Diana Krall's concert in August last year sure was irritating and embarrassing, not to mention disrespectful to the artist and fellow audience members.